What will offices look like post Covid-19?

Peter du ToitI'm the founder of FutureWork IQ where I spend my time assisting businesses to design digital workplaces or “offices in the cloud.” These environments enable companies to allow flexible and remote working for their teams. I also teach the digital literacy, fluency, communication and collaboration skills needed to work in these modern technology-rich workplaces.

Considering all the protocols that will have to be put in place at offices to allow people to safely work in them, things like continuous disinfection of high traffic areas and items, doorknobs, handrails, desk surfaces, kitchen areas, communal bathrooms, physical distancing between staff, hand sanitizing, monitoring staff symptoms etc. (See What Returning to Work Will Look Like in Offices, Cafes and Factories Around the World) It will be MUCH easier and less disruptive to have everyone who can just continue to work remotely.

Your next immediate goal should be to find solutions to your most challenging remote work issues, whether they be managerial, staff digital literacy or technological. (Btw sooo many remote work challenges can be solved by understanding and adopting asynchronous workflows vs trying to replicate synchronous in-office experiences online) Those companies that make remote working the default will experience way less disruption in the next 18 to 24 months.

You have been given an opportunity to reimagine your workplace. Embrace it with both hands!